Hamilton College is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to qualified students with disabilities, and offers numerous support services.

Although the College does not have a specialized program for students with disabilities, Associate Dean of Students for Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility Services Allen Harrison coordinates individualized accommodations and support services for any student who has a documented need. Additionally, support is available to students through the Writing Center and Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning Center.

Students seeking special arrangements due to a disability should provide a recent evaluation conducted by a specialist in the appropriate field. It should include a specific diagnosis, information regarding onset, longevity and severity of symptoms, and evidence of how the disability and/or related medications and treatments interfere or limit any major life activity (participation in the courses, programs and activities of the college), and recommended accommodations. This information can be sent to the College via the disability registration form and the disability certification form.

Dean Harrison will use the information provided and consult with faculty and qualified experts as needed to help the student develop a system of support--appropriate to his/her needs. Requests for academic adjustments should be made well in advance of the start of each semester (by July 1st for fall enrollment and January 1st for spring enrollment).

Temporary Medical Conditions

We recognize that students with temporary health issues due to injuries, surgery or short-term medical conditions may need access to additional on-campus services and resources. Examples of temporary medical conditions may include, but are not limited to broken limbs, hand injuries, concussions or short-term impairments following surgery or medical treatments.

Additionally, we consult with faculty in thinking creatively about solutions to assess problems manifested after an injury. It is our practice to present and discuss strategies and, where appropriate, to suggest reasonable flexibility in academic processes or time lines.

Documentation Requirements

To receive accommodations for a temporary health issue, the student must submit recent documentation from a healthcare provider to the Dean of Students Office indicating the type of condition, severity, limitations, prognosis, and its estimated duration. It is also helpful to know any adverse side effects caused by medication and what accommodations are recommended. We may request additional documentation to verify the need for continued services after the estimated duration of the condition has expired.

The student should call the Dean of Students Office at 315.859.4021 to set-up an appointment with the associate dean of students for multicultural affairs and accessibility services. The meeting will consist of a review of the available documentation for the temporary medical condition and a discussion about possible accommodations and available resources. The associate dean of students will advise the student if any additional paperwork is required prior to setting up accommodations.

Potential Accommodations for Temporary Medical Conditions

Academic accommodations are approved on a case-by-case basis. Accommodations for a temporary arm, hand, or upper extremity injury may include:

Note taking assistance

Audio recorder for lectures

Extended testing time

Computer for essay exams

Students with temporary medical conditions must meet with the associate dean of students to discuss:

Other Resources/Accommodations that Individuals with Temporary Medical Conditions may want to consider:

Residential Life (on-campus housing)

Students who have mobility concerns may inquire with the Office of Residential Life to be moved to a first floor room and/or to a room with accessible bathroom facilities (as space is available). Contact your resident advisor, area director or director of residential life to discuss availability and options.

Physical Education Courses

Students may request consideration and adjustments to physical education courses due to temporary medical conditions without needing to register with the Dean of Students Office. Please contact Kerri Fagan, associate director, athletics, at 315.859.4753 or kfagan@hamilton.edu to discuss needs.

Laptop Loans

The Dean of Students Office maintains two laptops and each has dual (Mac and Windows) operating systems. They are also equipped with Dragon Naturally Speaking software which converts speech to text. Please contact us to check on availability and to schedule an appointment to sign one out (includes signing a laptop loan agreement).

For more information on Accessibility Services at Hamilton College, contact Dean Harrison at aharriso@hamilton.edu.

For more information about Accessibility Services contact Associate Dean of Students for Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility Services Allen Harrison at aharriso@hamilton.edu
or 315-859-4021.

Assistive Technology

The Accessibility Services Team, which includes members of the Dean of Students Office, the Library, and Information and Technology Services (ITS), addresses reading and writing challenges faced by students with various learning differences and disabilities. Further information can be found at the Assistive Technology Resources page.

Faculty Guide

An awareness of federal law and College policies and procedures is an important component of our community effort to support students with disabilities. It is equally important for faculty members to facilitate accommodations. The Faculty Guide for Students with Disabilities is a useful resource for new and continuing faculty in working with students who have documented disabilities.